Checks on Students Undermine Trust | Universities Being Used as Proxy Border Police, Say Academics

3

British universities have been positioned as central culprits for failing to regulate their intake of foreign students, while rendered dependent on “overseas” student fees because of government funding cuts. A pernicious new turn took place in summer 2012 when London Metropolitan University lost its “highly trusted sponsor” status, to catastrophic effect for students in the middle of their courses. Since then, universities have been preoccupied with managing accountability demanded by UK Visas and Immigration (formerly the UK Border Agency), and, in effect, have become its proxy. Academics at a number of universities in the UK and beyond have now become concerned at this state of affairs, and at the methods used to establish bona fide student status.

We, the undersigned, oppose the acquiescence of Universities UK members in acting as an extension of UKVI, thereby undermining the autonomy and academic freedom of UK universities and trust between academics and their students. We object to the actions of universities which:

• Use mechanisms of pastoral care, such as monitoring of student attendance and meetings with tutors, as mechanisms for monitoring non-EU students, or so-called Tier 4 visa holders, on behalf of UKVI.

• Treat UK/EU and non-EU students differently with regard to determining their ongoing academic standing.

• Construct and deploy systems of monitoring and surveillance such as biometric scanning systems and electronic signing-in mechanisms to single out non-EU students.

• Agree to monitor behaviours that may be unrelated to academic endeavour, and allow this data to be used by UKVI in determining the supposed legitimacy of non-EU students.

We note that UUK released a briefing document on 10 February regarding the House of Lords’ second reading of the immigration bill, in which UUK registers concern that landlords are required to check the immigration status of tenants. We urge UUK to go further and declare its rejection of the practices described above. We call on Universities UK, on behalf of member university vice-chancellors and principals, to oppose the discriminatory treatment of non-EU students in all forms and publicly affirm:

• That the quality of academic work should be the primary criterion for determining academic standing.

• That all students be treated equally regarding their attendance at classes, and that their right to privacy be respected, irrespective of their nationality.

• The right of universities to autonomy in making decisions on progression and retention of non-EU students.

Dr Maha Abdelrahman University of CambridgeDr Reem Abou-El-Fadl Durham UniversityProf Gilbert Achcar SOAS, University of LondonDr Christine Achinger University of WarwickDr Sam Adelman University of WarwickProf Nadje Al-Ali SOAS, University of LondonDr Anne Alexander University of Cambridge Dr Miranda Alison University of WarwickProf Louise Amoore Durham UniversityDr Dibyesh Anand University of WestminsterDr Rainer-Elk Anders Staffordshire UniversityDr Walter Armbrust University of Oxford Dr Andrew Asibong Birkbeck, University of LondonDr Sara Jane Bailes University of SussexDr Oliver Bakewell University of OxfordDr Bahar Baser University of WarwickProf Les Back Goldsmiths, University of LondonDr Victoria Basham University of ExeterDr Alex Benchimol University of GlasgowDr Mette Louise Berg University of OxfordProf Gurminder Bhambra University of WarwickDr Claire Blencowe University of WarwickProf Elleke Boehmer University of OxfordDr Maud Bracke University of Glasgow Dr Chris Browning University of Warwick Dr Lorna Burns University of St AndrewsProf Ray Bush University of LeedsDr Rosie Campbell Birbeck, University of LondonProf Bob S Carter University of LeicesterProf Nickie Charles University of WarwickDr Chris Clarke University of WarwickDr Rachel Cohen City University of LondonProf Robin Cohen University of OxfordCole Collins University of GlasgowProf Christine Cooper University of Strathclyde Prof Gordon Crawford University of LeedsDr Jonathan Davies University of Warwick Dr Ipek Demir University of Leicester Prof Thomas Docherty University of WarwickProf Toby Dodge LSEDr Renske Doorenspleet University of WarwickProf Costas Douzinas Birkbeck, University of LondonProf Elizabeth Dowler University of WarwickDr Franck Duvell University of OxfordJakub Eberle University of KentDr Juanita Elias University of WarwickHannah El-Sisi University of OxfordSafinaz El-Tarouty University of East AngliaProf David Epstein FRS University of WarwickDr Elizabeth Ewart University of OxfordAli Fathollah-Nejad SOAS, University of LondonDr Sara R Farris Goldsmiths, University of LondonProf Robert Fine University of WarwickTina Freyburg University of WarwickProf Bridget Fowler University of GlasgowProf Des Freedman Goldsmiths, University of LondonProf Matthew Fuller Goldsmiths, University of LondonDr Manuela Galetto University of WarwickPaul GilroyDr Jane Goldman University of Glasgow Dr Priyamvada Gopal University of Cambridge Dr Toni Haastrup University of KentJuliette Harkin University of East AngliaDr Sophie Harman Queen Mary, University of LondonDr Oz Hassan University of WarwickDr Charlotte Heath-Kelly University of WarwickProf John Holloway Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico Prof John Holmwood University of NottinghamDr Michael Hrebeniak University of Cambridge Dr Aggie Hurst City University of LondonMarta Iñiguez de Heredia University of Cambridge Prof Engin F Isin The Open UniversityMatt Jenkins University of NewcastleRev Dr Stuart B Jennings University of WarwickDr Hannah Jones University of WarwickDr Lee Jones Queen Mary, University of London Salman Karim University of East AngliaProf Rebecca Kay University of GlasgowDženeta Karabegovic University of WarwickSalman Karim University of East AngliaDr Sossie Kasbarian University of LancasterDr Nitasha Kaul University of Westminster, LondonProf Rebecca Kay University of GlasgowDr Alexander Kazamias University of CoventryDr. John Keefe London Metropolitan UniversityDr Dominic Kelly University of WarwickProf Laleh Khalili SOAS, University of LondonDr Paul Kirby University of SussexDr Nicholas Kitchen LSE Dr Maria Koinova University of Warwick Dr Alexandra Kokoli Middlesex UniversityDr Vassiliki Kolocotroni University of GlasgowDr Dennis Leech University of Warwick Dr Samantha Lyle University of OxfordMr Paddy Lyons University of Glasgow Dr William McEvoy University of SussexDr Robert McLaughlan University of NewcastleProf Martin McQuillan Kingston University LondonDr Graeme MacDonald University of WarwickDr Alice Mah University of WarwickDr Maria do Mar Pereira University of WarwickProf Philip Marfleet University of East LondonDr Vicky Margree University of BrightonDr Robert Maslen University of GlasgowDr Lucy Mayblin University of Sheffield Dr John Miller University of SheffieldDr David Mills University of OxfordDr Drew Milne University of CambridgeLatoya Mistral Ferns University of Warwick and Durham University alumnaSian Mitchell University of Warwick Prof David Mond University of WarwickDr Liz Morrish Nottingham Trent University Dr Pablo Mukherjee University of WarwickRoberta Mulas University of Warwick Dr Simon Murray University of GlasgowGhandy Najla University of East AngliaDr Michael Niblett University of Warwick Dr Marijn Nieuwenhuis University of WarwickDr Patrick O’Connor Nottingham Trent UniversityProf Martin O’Shaughnessy Nottingham Trent UniversityDr Goldie Osuri University of WarwickDr Ian Patterson Queens’ College, Cambridge Prof Adam Piette University of SheffieldProf Alison Phipps University of GlasgowDr Loredana Polezzi University of Warwick Dr Nicola Pratt University of WarwickDr Rupert Read University of East AngliaDr John Regan University of CambridgeDr James Riley Corpus Christi College, CambridgeDr Stephen Ross University of Victoria, CanadaDr Chris Rossdale City University of LondonProf Paul Routledge University of LeedsAndrew Rubens University of GlasgowAli Saqer University of WarwickProf Derek Sayer Lancaster UniversityProf Jan Aart Scholte University of WarwickDr Jason Scott-Warren University of CambridgeDr Robbie Shilliam Queen Mary University of LondonDr Nando Sigona University of BirminghamProf Melanie Simms University of LeicesterDr Andrew Smith University of GlasgowDr Vicki Squire University of WarwickDr Samuel Solomon University of SussexDr Nick Srnicek University College LondonMaurice Stierl University of WarwickDr Mariz Tadros Institute of Development Studies, University of SussexDr Jacqueline Sanchez Taylor University of LeicesterNick Taylor University of WarwickProf Olga Taxidou University of EdinburghDr Andrea Teti University of AberdeenLisa Tilley University of WarwickLauren Tooker University of Warwick Prof Charles Tripp SOAS, University of LondonDr Mandy Turner University of Bradford/Kenyon Institute, JerusalemDr Maria Villares Varela University of OxfordDr Vron Ware The Open UniversityDr Dave Webber University of WarwickDr Polly Wilder University of LeedsDr Aaron Winter Abertay UniversityDr Nicholas Wright University of East AngliaProf Patrick Wright King’s College LondonDr Yoke-Sum Wong Lancaster University

Universities being used as proxy border police, say academics

Academics accuse UK Visas and Immigration of undermining trust between universities and students in crackdown

More than 160 academics have written to the Guardian to protest at being used as an extension of the UK border police, after universities have come under more pressure to check the immigration details of students.

The academics, from universities including Oxford, Warwick, Durham and Sheffield, accuse the Home Office immigration agency of “undermining the autonomy and academic freedom of UK universities and trust between academics and their students”.

Unrest has been growing for months as universities have come under more pressure to prove that their students are legitimate, according to the signatories, who say matters took a “pernicious new turn” in summer 2012 when London Metropolitan University briefly lost its trusted sponsor status – a requirement for all institutions wishing to recruit overseas students.

“Since then, universities have been preoccupied with managing accountability demanded by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI – formerly the UK Border Agency), and in effect have become its proxy,” says the letter. “Academics at a number of universities in the UK and beyond have now become concerned at this state of affairs, and at the methods used to establish bona fide student status.”

Academics are being asked to monitor attendance and in some cases potentially to share emails with UKVI, said Mette Berg, of the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Oxford University. “We have a duty of care towards our students, and there is an issue about this undermining the trust between tutor and student. We are not there to be proxy border police.”

A Home Office spokesman defended the reforms to the student visa system, saying they had made the application process more rigorous and less open to abuse.

The academics say the changes come at a time when universities are becoming more reliant on the fees of non-EU students. The letter says: “British universities have been positioned as central culprits for failing to regulate their intake of foreign students, while rendered dependent on overseas student fees because of government funding cuts.”

Nicola Pratt of Warwick University said some vice-chancellors were so concerned about losing their ability to take foreign students there was a danger of checks becoming heavy-handed.

“We are a community of scholars and students, and those students should be judged on the basis of academic merit, not on the basis of their visa status,” she said. “It is a major concern that the government is targeting overseas students as a way of meeting immigration targets, especially as these students are investing a huge amount in thehigher education system.”

The letter calls for an end to the monitoring of students via sessions designed for pastoral care, and for UK, EU and non-EU students to be treated and valued equally. It also asks for Universities UK, an advocacy organisation for universities, to speak out against monitoring students.

“We call on Universities UK, on behalf of member university vice-chancellors and principals, to oppose the discriminatory treatment of non-EU students in all forms and publicly affirm that the quality of academic work should be the primary criterion for determining academic standing,” the letter says.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said it was not acquiescing to the demands of the Home Office but had worked with it to make immigration compliance measures reasonable.

“We have been clear with the Home Office that attendance monitoring should not impact on students’ experience at university nor detract from the UK as a welcoming destination for international students,” she said.

“It is reasonable to expect universities to take responsibility for ensuring that students are engaged with their studies. This applies to all students, and not just international students.”

The Home Office said: “We continue to welcome the brightest and the best students and the latest statistics show that visa applications from university students has risen by 7% in the year ending December 2013. It is only right that universities adhere to the guidance and immigration rules of sponsorship by taking reasonable steps to ensure that every student has permission to be in the UK.”